Secunda motorist Ben Mlaza has covered approximately 213 500 km in the red Mazda3 he bought in 2015. Eleven years later, it remains his daily drive, and he has no plans to replace it.

His story, shared with Mazda Southern Africa, follows a relationship with the brand that began in 2008. Today, the car he chose more than a decade ago continues to take him through everyday life in Mpumalanga and on family trips to the Eastern Cape.

“It’s still going like it’s new, and it’s comfortable,” says Mlaza. “It’s a beautiful car. I’m sticking with it.”

Ben, who works in quality control at Sasol, bought his first Mazda3 2.0 in 2008. After it was written off in an accident, he briefly drove another brand before returning to Mazda. The red Mazda3 he bought in 2015 has been with him ever since.

He had considered a different vehicle when he visited the dealership, but the Mazda3 caught his attention. Seeing it in red settled the decision.

“I wasn’t a stranger to the brand, and I don’t like drama in my life, so I went for it”

he says.

His wife, who has also liked Mazda for many years, shares his affection for the car. It has become part of their family life, including a road trip to East London that Ben recalls during the interview.

For Ben, fuel economy remains a favourite feature.

“I think it’s how economical it is on fuel. I love that”

he says.

He also remembers the appeal of the steering-wheel radio and phone controls when he first bought the car.

“At the time, they were cool and new, and it looked like I had a fancy-fancy car”

he says. Bluetooth, a sound system he still enjoys, and a sunroof add to his pleasure behind the wheel.

The care he takes of his Mazda3 is just as personal. Only Ben and his wife drive it, and eating in the car is firmly off the table. On family trips, they stop to eat rather than bring food into the cabin.

“I really like my cars clean, inside and out,” he says.

His pride in the car has drawn attention from others, too. Ben remembers being approached in Johannesburg by someone who wanted to know what he was driving and asked to look inside. His cousin in East London drives a Mazda3 as well, so the brand love is a family affair.

When asked whether he would stay with Mazda if given the budget for a new car, Ben names the CX-60. For now, though, he is happy to keep the Mazda3 he already knows.

His advice to anyone choosing a car is practical: choose something you feel sure about and stay within your means. “Buy what you can afford,” he says.

After 11 years and approximately 213 500 km, Ben’s red Mazda3 is still the car he wants to drive.

Ben found his wonderrrr in a red Mazda3, and 11 years later, the story continues. Find your wonderrrr and start your own Mazda story. Explore the range or find your nearest dealership at www.mazda.co.za or follow @mazda_sa across social media.